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Senator Sonny Angara said that COVID-19 tests, if done at the government operated laboratories, should be free of charge to the public. With the demand for COVID-19 tests going up due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, Angara said there is sufficient funding under the 2022 national budget to cover for the requirements […]
The chair of the House Committee on Labor and Employment said antigen testing is a more viable option compared to reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) if testing for COVID-19 is required for unvaccinated workers returning to work. 1-PACMAN Party-list Representative Enrico Pineda said RT-PCR testing is very expensive at around P2,500 per test, every two […]
Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing for regular COVID-19 tests for teachers after having witnessed the start of the pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes. Two schools in Zambales postponed the opening of in-person classes because seven teachers from both schools tested positive for the coronavirus disease after taking rapid antigen tests. “Dapat mapondohan ang testing […]
Deputy Speaker Eddie Villanueva said the government should strengthen its information dissemination on its policy of setting a lowered price cap on real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing in the country. Villanueva said the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Trade and Industry should make their messaging “unambiguous” and execute a “more vigorous information […]
The Department of Tourism (DOT) has urged health facilities to lower the cost of RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests to encourage more people to travel and hasten the recovery of the tourism industry from the pandemic. Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat noted that testing for COVID-19 remains expensive and out of reach of budget-conscious travelers and […]
A party-list lawmaker urged the government to provide free reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for stranded passengers and drivers of public utility vehicles. Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin said funding for the free RT-PCR testing can be sourced from the revenues of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor). “Recalling the directive of […]
As the number of COVID cases continue to spike on the first year of the first COVID-caused community quarantine, Senator Kiko Pangilinan said the Department of Health to empower local governments so that they can level-up in addressing the challenges of controlling the spread of the disease. “Local governments know what’s happening on the ground, […]
As the Senate continues its hearing on the national coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program, Senator Dick Gordon pointed out that implementing the Universal Health Care Law would ensure a speedy and organized rollout of the vaccination program. Gordon said that the UHC mandates that every Filipino shall register with a public or private primary care […]
The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) signed the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) for setting the price range for Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Reaction (RT-PCR) Testing for COVID-19. The JAO is pursuant to Executive Order No. 118 of President Rodrigo Duterte that ordered agencies to implement a price range for COVID-19 […]
Senator Dick Gordon honors the volunteers and staff of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as the country’s foremost humanitarian organization reached a one-million mark in the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) tests performed in the country. In his privilege speech, Gordon, chair and CEO of PRC, said hitting 1,003,754 results is a momentous occasion for […]